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Sunday, November 18, 2018

Historic Green Gables Tourist Cabins in Gettysburg

Millions of tourists visit Gettysburg to view the Gettysburg Battlefield and the Civil War memorials. However, there is a lot more history to Gettysburg than what you might think. Over the coming weeks, we'll be featuring some historic buildings and other historical sites that are off the beaten path or lesser known than their famous counterparts.

The first one that we're featuring is the Historic Green Gables Tourist Cabins. Here's some information about them.

Located on Steinwehr Avenue and on the property of the Quality Inn, you'll find a small white cabin that used to be a part of the Green Gables Tourist Cabins. There is a historical marker out front that gives you a little bit of the history surrounding it. Here's what it says.

On the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, the Union Army retreated from positions behind you to Cemetery Hill, the high ground in front of you. By early evening Union pickets along this area of the Emmitsburg Road were being harassed by Confederate fire. On July 3rd, Federal artillery fired over this lot onto the fields to your right, aiding the repulse of Pickett's charge.

In 1938, in time for the 75th anniversary of the battle, Curnal Butt and his three daughters opened the Green Gables Tourist Cabins advertising "running water, luncheonette and confection service..."

In 1956, Paul and Jean Witt replaced the cabins with the Gettysburg Motor Lodge, the first modern motel in Gettysburg.

In 1996 their sons, Gary and Paul Jr., had Cabin #3 returned to the site and restored as a reminder of the early lodging industry.

We had the pleasure of visiting this historic cabin during the fall of 2016. It sits in the middle of the Quality Inn property and you can see it from Steinwehr Avenue. If you walk up to it you'll see the informational marker (shown in photo #2) which will give you some history about it. One of these days I would love to see the inside of the restored cabin!